Photos: Home and Mission

Trip to the Waterfalls the first weekend.
Testimony sharing in the bosque.

Mass at las Clarisas (Poor Clares)



Capilla de los dos corazones: Our in-house chapel.

From Porch of our house.

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Hola and la Paz de Cristo!

I can't believe I've only been here for 2 and a half weeks! It is really beginning to feel like home here, praise God! Actually, it's felt pretty homey from the beginning...I am very happy here. God reveals Himself in everything and everyone...I'm learning to accept His perfection instead of trying to create my own! His is much much better.

Last week was unlike anything I've ever experienced. We drove about 2 hours into the forest (bosque) and up the mountains to a city called Guajiquiro. It was cold! From there, we drove even higher into the mountains to get to a small village. It was more extremely rustic, and incredibly beautiful. We met and visited the people who lived there, and in the afternoons held catechism/youth-group meetings, and Mass with confessions for the people there. Then in the evenings we held holy hours with them. We were blessed to have a CFR priest with us the whole week. It is amazing to bring Jesus in the Eucharist to people because then you really know that it is HIM they are receiving and nothing that you have to bring. You become only a facilitator; a vessel of God's work through the Holy Spirit. This was helpful to remember, as somehow I ended up giving 5 15-minute talks in Spanish during the week! I shared my candle during our last holy hour with a little guy named Luis that we got to know during the week. He gave me so much hope! In his joy and happiness, in the way he took care of his sister, and the way he received with excitement all the lessons and songs throughout the week. Please keep all the people we met in your prayers; that they might continue to respond to Christ as He calls them to new life.

I miss you all, and hope you are enjoying the beginning of Fall, wherever you are! Toast some apple cider for me!

In Jesus' AMAZING love,

MJ

Estoy Aqui en Honduras!

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Paz de Cristo con Ustedes!
(Peace of Christ be with all of you!)

I am here safely in Comayagua, Honduras. I am very sorry for my lack of updates. Going three weeks without internet was new and exciting, but today being able to check it was a gift...remembering from where I come renews my gratitude again! I think about all of you who are supporting me constantly...it is because of you that I'm able to be living this new life.

The mission is incredible. I've felt very prayed for...though integrating into a community which is still growing and trying to see God's will has been a little overwhelming, it is liberating to simply trust and to know that this is where He wants me for this season in my life.

The barrio (neighborhood) that we live in is all dirt roads, animals running all over (they only make noises at night though!)...though we've been in orientation and haven't met too many people, the ones I have met have already taught me a lot. They are gracious and patient with my Spanish. Whenever I start looking inwards, I am given an opportunity to choose to love..the face of Christ is everywhere you look. As a fellow missioner told me the other day, it is our choice whether we miss Him or acknowledge Him, because He is there--most especially in the eyes of the poor.

It is a gift to serve here..and with gifts come responsibilities. God is entrusting a lot to each member of this community. It looks like I'll be working with a middle school women's group, called las Rosas del Maria, Mothers' groups (many of whom are quite young), the scholarship program in which people from the states can sponsor a youth to attend school here (this includes tutoring), community formation, short term missions...plus the missions in the mountains and retreats for youth with the Friars. It all looks a bit impossible to me, and I'm tempted to doubt that any fruit can come of it...but God loves to show that the impossible is possible. We have nowhere else to turn but to Him.

I'll post pictures when I can. Please pray for us this week. We are going up to the mountains to for a Mission....since there are so few priests, each priest is responsible for over 100 villages in the mountains. Of course it is quite challenging for them to get there, so we go out and do what we can to minister to the people there, who lack access to the sacraments.

The beauty of this town is that it is surrounded by mountains. We are truly in the depths. When I feel a little overwhelmed by everything, I remember the Psalm: "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains, where shall my help come from? My help shall come from the LORD who made Heaven and Earth".

You are in my prayers, and in my heart. May God bless all you are doing! Praise God in the heights and the depths of our lives.

Love,
MJ